The Impact of Culture and Language on Immigration ©

The Impact of Culture and Language on Immigration

JEANNETTE VILLATORO

Language and culture are by far the most impacting aspects of human life. Every culture has a certain worldview that is affected by the way people interpret language and communication. The United States is a country in which immigration is fluent, particularly with the Hispanic population. With all of the different cultures that are intertwined with the American culture, it is both a difficult and miraculous journey to accept and modify the ability to communicate with various people with differing cultural beliefs. This author will attempt to uncover the bond between language and culture, how these issues affect immigration into the United States, and how an ability to embrace language and cultural differences can enable positive immigration to flourish.

Besides language and culture separately being strong contenders in how people live and associate with one another, both factors are also robustly interrelated. The United States has been coined as the melting pot of cultural influence. One of the highest immigration rates comes from Spanish speaking cultures. Immigration has undoubtedly perpetuated much debate and controversy, interestingly based on language and cultural differences. According to the National Center for Policy Analysis, “the United States' Hispanic population now stands at about 40 million. Some of these are immigrants with limited English language skills, prompting some concerns over the ability of Hispanics to assimilate into American culture” (NCPA, 2009, p. 1). This is a resounding fact that impacts not only immigrants, but the citizens of the United States as well. Although there are a profound number of Hispanic immigrants populating to the United States, it is an actuality that many Hispanic people make the choice of holding onto their native language and traditions (NCPA, 2009). Furthermore, those embracing their Hispanic traditions have a difficult time relating to the American culture. This poses a dilemma for both the immigrants and citizens of the United States.

Hispanic immigrants essentially leave one abrupt culture for another. The differences are astounding, and the language is uniquely different. It appears that only one third of the Hispanic immigrant population in the United States learn the English language well enough to function in American society (NCPA, 2009). Yet, those few even prefer to utilize their Spanish culture and language in the home predominantly (NCPA, 2009). Hispanic culture is rich and vibrant with traditions and communication boundaries between genders, generations and social classes. Family values are of utmost importance in Hispanic culture in which there are close family ties between all members of the family with a commitment to all relationships from great grandparents to nieces and nephews (Clutter, Nieto, 2009). Most American families have close bonds, but the immediate family is more concentrated upon than further generations down the line. Additionally, there are differences in the way that language is expressed and received in the Hispanic culture. As stated by Clutter and Nieto, “Spanish speakers tend toward formality in their treatment of one another” (Clutter, Nieto, 2009, p. 1). When communication goes beyond formality, kissing on the cheek is a common practice in the Hispanic culture (Clutter, Nieto, 2009). This differs slightly from American culture in which formality is less formal with the initial meetings of people and informality is less affectionate when greeting those that are well known.

It is unquestionable that the cultural aspects of Spanish speaking countries will differ greatly from that of the general American population. Yet, there are also similarities in all cultures that abound through barriers and borderlines. Despite the difficulties in assessing and eventually harmonizing the differences between cultures and language, it is significant to understand the uniqueness that entrenches the Hispanic culture. Similarly, those immigrating to the United States should welcome the changes that American culture presents. Being able to positively mesh the cultural and language differences into a comfortable living style will allow communication to naturally flow between contrary cultures. Immigration should elicit understanding, knowledge, and an influence of new beginnings. Rather than expecting immigrants to adapt solely to the new culture and abandon their own, United States citizens should anticipate a broadening of both cultural aspects. Correspondingly, those immigrating from Hispanic cultures should allow themselves to embrace the new cultural surroundings they are being thrust into without depending exclusively on their own. Communication is the key for such beginnings to successfully transpire and prosper.

Immigration is an issue that affects many and results in close relation to religion, politics and love for country. There is a commonly negative association with immigration and it occurs from a lack of compassion, understanding, and communication skills. Those immigrating to the United States from Hispanic countries are doing so with a willingness to espouse a new culture and the deep-rooted desire to continue their own. Instead of abandonment of culture or complete adoption of another, there should be reasonable expectations for immigrants to fuse both cultures into a uniform lifestyle. If this is made available to immigrants and an air of acceptance is intact, the language and cultural impediment that will always be in place will no longer be the deterioration of positive communication, but an enhancement of the language styles and cultural affluence that can be experienced by all.

References

Clutter, A., & Nieto, R. . (2009). Understanding the Hispanic culture. Retrieved from
http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/5000/5237.html.

Levine, R. (2005). Assimilation, past and present. Public Interest, (159), 93-108.
Retrieved March 7, 2010, from ABI/INFORM Global. (Document ID: 841741471).

NCPA, Initials. (2009). Hispanic immigrants and American culture. Retrieved March 5,
2010 from http://www.ncpa.org/sub/dpd/index.php?Article_ID=2048.